Washing-machine



( No mm.) 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' 0. E, SMITH.

I WASHIHG MACHINE. I I N0. 327,832. Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. E. SMITH.

WASHING MAGHINE.

Patented Oct. 6, 1885.

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UNITED STAT S PATENT O FIC or'ro E. SMITH, or JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,832, dated October6, 1885.

Application filed January 28, 1885. Serial No. 154,208. (No model.)

vTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, O'r'ro E. SMITH, of

Janesville, in the county of Rock, and in the State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

My invention relates to washing-machines; and it consists in certainpeculiarities of construction, all as will be more fully set forthhereinafter. 1

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal verti-' cal section thereof, taken through the center ofthe machine, and looking from the side 0p: posite to that shown inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, on the line a; a ofFig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views,

drawn to an enlarged scale, illustrating the construction of the severalparts shown more clearly.

A is the wash-box, preferably of the form shown, and mounted upon thelegs a a. The longest or side boards of the box are provided withinterior L-shaped grooves, a o the latter being enlarged at its end, asshown at a and the former having a central enlargement, a, which groovesare designed for the reception of the ends e of the straps E and theplates F, respectively, which receive the journals of the rollers B 0,around which the endless apron D moves, as hereinafter explained.

The straps E are flat strips of metal, one against each side piece ofthe wash-box, and

as to form loops (2', which receive the free ends 9 of coiled springs G,secured at the center of the coil to the said side pieces of the box, asshown at g. The roller 0 has journals 0 at each end, and these projectinto perforations in the ends 6 of the straps E, as shown in Fig. 6,while each end of the roller 0 is fitted with a circular scalloped head,0, the said scallops 0', preferably eight in number, serving to receivethe adjacent surfaces of the slats of which the endless apron D iscomposed, the said apron being sustained at the other end of its play bythe scalloped heads B on the roller B, whose journals 1) rest in thehatches of the plates F within the enlargements a of the tudinalV-shaped notch, d. Each end of each.

slat d is notched out also, and a continuous strip, d, of leather orother suitable material, such as rubber, cloth, or other fabric, isinserted edgewise into these end notches on each side,

and secured therein by brads or fasteners d so that when the apron iscomplete and in place it will present on its operative or'outer surfacea series of corrugations or V-shaped notches, the slats d being farenough apart to permit their inner surfaces to move in and out of thescallops b c in the heads B C of the rollers B 0 without binding, andalso so as to permit the water or suds to pass freely between them.

H is the rubber, and consists of a suitable metallic frame extendingacross the entire box and suspended from journals kit, which turn insuitable boxes or bearings, c a, in the top of the sides of thewash-box. From the lower part of the frame H, below the brace or reach Hthereof, and projecting down from each side, there extends a roundedplate, H*, which receives the journals of the corrugated rubbing-rollersh h four (more .or less) in number, and arranged in the arc of a circle.

I is a pivoted pawl,havingafinger, c, at one end for engagement with theteeth of the ratchet-wheel b and at the other end having a pin, 41,which may be placed in any one of aseries of holes, i i, in the sidepiece of the frame H, as desired, so as to adjust the limit or throw ofthe pawl I to any number of teeth on the ratchet-wheel b within thescope of the said pawl.

J is a spring-pawl, fastened at j to the side of the Wash-box, and itsfree end being provided with a guard, j, that slips over the teeth asthe ratchet-wheel b is revolved in one direction, and which serves as astop to prevent the said wheel from turning in the opposite direction.

J is a button, notched on its lower edge to keep the spring-pawl J toplace, and which button may be moved up or down at will, to diminish orincrease the tension of the' springpawl J.

The motive power and its connections will next be described.

K is the main gear-wheel, mounted upon a stud, k, which projects fromthe outside of one of the side pieces of the wash-box, and the hub 70'of the gear-wheel is squared to receive the,

I if desired, to secure necessary adjustment in certain cases,) and theparts being united by the bolt or pin a, while the other end of the link0 is securedto the crank-pin m on the plate m, attached to the pinion M.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription of its construction. The box being partially filled with thewater and soap or suds, the

j clothing to be washed is placed upon the end less apron D,and thecrank L revolved,which will cause the apron to move continuouslyforward,carrying the clothing under the rubber H and its rollers h h,and the said rubber will swing back and forth over the clothing in thearc of a circle, its rollers 71. h meanwhile freely revolving untilevery particle of dirt is freed from the clothing in a comparativelyshort time and with but little expenditure of strength. The enlargementa in the side grooves of the wash-box, in connection with the springs G,from which the straps E are suspended, enables the apron D to yield andbe forced downward to any extent desired, (as when pieces of carpet orother thick goods are beingwashed,)andyet,owingtothe force ofsaidsprings G,the apron is always held up against the under surface of therollers of the swinging rubber frame H, and hence the thinnest lacehandkerchief can be washed just as thoroughly as thicker goods, andwithout the slightest injury to the fabric.

The water can be drawn off from the box after washing by means of a holesupplied with a plug or stop-cock at any suitable point.

The rollers B and C may be square, if desired, or have squared ends, soas to receive the heads 13 0 without the necessity of a key or feather,and the former construction is shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a washing-machine, the-combination of the wash-box with an endlessslotted apron arranged in the arc of a circle, with one end in a lowerhorizontal plane than the other end of said apron, the lower end ofwhich is suspended from spring hangers or straps and ca- 'pable ofmovement vertically, and a rubbingframe to be moved back and forth inthe arc of a circle over said apron, substantially as set forth.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination of the wash-box and swingingrubber with the endless apron D, the roller .0, with scalloped heads 0,adapted to receive the inner surfaces of the slots of which the apron iscomposed, and the journals 0, the stops E, with ends 6, to receive thejournals 0, and the springs G, from which the said stops are suspended,substantially as set forth.

3. In a washing-machine, the wash-box A, the side pieces whereof areformed with the L-shaped grooves a a the latter having an endenlargement, a and the former having a central enlargement, a, fittedwith a notched plate, F, on each side, in combination with the springsG, strapsE e, and endless slotted apron 0 D, provided with the rollers B0, having journals b 0, respectively, the former journals resting withinthe notches in the plates F and the latter journals being received inperforations in the ends 6 of the straps E, substantially as 9 setforth.

4. In a washing-machine, the combination, with the wash-box and endlessapron suspended from spring hangers or straps, with the rubber frame H,suspended from bearings in the top of the box sides and extending acrossthe wash-box and having downward extensions on each side connected byrounded plate H in which are journaled corrugated rubbing-rollers h h,arranged in the arc of a cirr05 cle, substantially as set forth.

5. In a washing-machine, the combination of the wash-box A, endlessslotted apron D, rollers B O, and rubber-frame H, carrying. rollers h hwith the ratchet-wheel b,secured no to the journal of the roller B, pawlI, pivoted to the rubber-frame H, spring-pawl J, with tension-button J,and gear-wheel, pinion, link, and lever for communicating revolvingmotion to the apron D and reciprocating motion 11 5 to the rubber-frameH, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, atJ anesville, in

the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, in I20 CLARENCE L. CLARK,JOHN HOGAN.

